One of the oldest songs ever recorded in Korea came from a wife standing on the bank of a river.
We don't know her name. We don't know her village. But through her voice, we know her sorrow.
Imagine her there: pleading, crying, warning her husband not to cross.
He does not listen. He crossesโand he drowns.
We brought Korea's oldest song, Gongmudohaga, back to life with Suno AI.
The original voice is long gone, but its sorrow, beauty, and longing live on in this song.
Original Lyrics
Do not cross the river,
Please, my love, please stay.
(ๅ
ฌ็กๆธกๆฒณ)
But you would not listen,
And drifted far away.
(ๅ
ฌ็ซๆธกๆฒณ)
Now you are goneโ
Lost beneath the stream.
(ๅขฎๆฒณ่ๆญป)
My joy has vanished;
Alas, what shall I do?
(็ถๅฅๅ
ฌไฝ)
New Lyrics
Do not cross the river,
Please, my love, please stay.
The wind was cold and bitter,
Yet you walked away.
I called your name, but silence fell,
The water took you in its spell.
My hands reached out, but only air,
And now youโre goneโforever, nowhere.
Do not cross the river,
Please, my love, please stay.
But you would not listen,
And drifted far away.
Now you are goneโ
Lost beneath the stream.
My joy has vanished;
Alas, what shall I do?
Shadows on the water,
Echoes on the shore.
Every step I wander,
I canโt find you anymore.
Your laughter fades like twilightโs song,
The night feels empty, dark, and long.
If I could turn the riverโs tide,
Iโd hold you close, back by my side.
Do not cross the river,
Please, my love, please stay.
But you would not listen,
And drifted far away.
Now you are goneโ
Lost beneath the stream.
My joy has vanished;
Alas, what shall I do?
If love could build a bridge of light,
Iโd walk across, Iโd hold you tight.
But rivers flow, and time wonโt bend,
I lost you once, I lose again.
Do not cross the river,
Please, my love, please stay.
But you would not listen,
And drifted far away.
Now you are goneโ
Lost beneath the stream.
My joy has vanished;
Alas, what shall I do?
Do not cross the riverโฆ
Alas, what shall I do?